Lampang wrote:.. the film's clearly meant for a largely western audience to watch and - as a consequence - feel good about themselves and (a) it's going to make them feel better about themselves if they see themselves overcoming themselves (rather than the yellow peril)...

Well, it seems like perceptions for this movie are all over the map. How one perceives the film will depend on the individual's perspective. The experience is extremely subjective...

"As Buddhists, we should aim to develop relationships that are not predominated by grasping and clinging. Our relationships should be characterised by the brahmaviharas of metta (loving kindness), mudita (sympathetic joy), karuna (compassion), and upekkha (equanimity)."~post by Ben, Jul 02, 2009

++++++++++++++++This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.

There is freedom from birth, freedom from becoming, freedom from making, freedom from conditioning. If there were not this freedom from birth, freedom from becoming, freedom from making, freedom from conditioning, then escape from that which is birth, becoming, making, conditioning, would not be known here. -- Ud 80

Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireas na daoine.People live in one another’s shelter.

Hello all. I saw avatar at the midnight showing, in 3-D, and found that this movie has to be the most advanced, visually, to date. Plot wise, not so much.I'm not sure if was just me, but I thought that the big military power invading the native's land, to harvest the LARGEST deposit of "unabtanium" ( Which I thought was a very interesting name for this highly valuable resource) is strikingly similar to the situation in the middle east, and the united states, especially the massive, and gross bombing of their sacred tree, in order to start drilling. Also, i found the scene after the tree toppled surfaced images of the twin towers in my mind. Just a thought, not sure if others found this to be so prevalent. What do you guys think?

tiltbillings wrote:The Vatican not liking the movie is a positive endorsement for me.

I can't think of a more reliable movie critic!

"The serene and peaceful mind is the true epitome of human achievement."-- Ajahn Chah, Living Dhamma

"To reach beyond fear and danger we must sharpen and widen our vision. We have to pierce through the deceptions that lull us into a comfortable complacency, to take a straight look down into the depths of our existence, without turning away uneasily or running after distractions." -- Bhikkhu Bodhi

An 'Avatar' for All the Oppressedby Shen Shi'an, The Buddhist Channel, Jan 15, 2010

Singapore -- The epic movie ‘Avatar’ is a must-see – for every generation, every kid and adult. Its dramatic and educational messages are direct and simple, but portrayed in probably the most powerful and inspiring manner to date on the silver screen.

In the future, after fully milking the Earth’s minerals for energy, humans travel to another planet to mine a more precious mineral. What’s next after planetary exploitation? Interplanetary exploitation! Or is it universal exploitation? It is downright exploitation because it disregards the already present harmony of its indigenous people (’aliens’ to us), animals and vegetation.

Seeing the Nav’is as uncivilised savages, the human conquerors are the real savages instead, who terrorise their home planet carelessly. Despite having more advanced technology, the humans had long lost their spiritual resonance with the Earth, much more to say other planets. Being short-sighted mercenaries, the invaders do not realise that the true and total wealth of the planet was already all around, as it is in the wholeness and interdependence of nature’s elements; it was not just hidden in some buried minerals. When a human takes on the avatar of a Na’vi’s form to blend in and understand Na’vi society, he literally becomes one of them when he opens his heart and mind to them – turning his back to the inhumanity of humanity.

The ingenuity of using an alien race to tell the story is that it can stand for any oppressed community in the past and future, making it a timeless tale. With strong allusions to native Americans being colonised by invaders, the Na’vis did not feel that they needed the ‘education and medicine’ offered by their oppressors, for they were already content with their strong spiritual sense of oneness with the environment – with its exotic flora and fauna. In fact, they have developed techniques of connecting to nature, to meditatively ‘upload and download’ the collective wisdom of their ancestors, and to tap into the energy network of the planet itself. The ’spirit’ of their planet is known as Eywa, while ours is Gaia!

With their great respect for animals, the Na’vis never see them as savage creatures, but as sentient beings with rights to live too… according to the law of the jungle though. While they chide those who kill them needlessly, perhaps the Na’vis should evolve to be vegans! Interestingly, they let wild animals ‘domesticate’ them too, when they strive to win trust to become win-win partners. In a final bid to win back the planet against their attackers, the Na’vis summon the animals for their assistance in casting them out. When nature is abused, the forces of nature, with its environment and beings rebel in unison. It’s ‘natural karma’ in action!http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php ... 52,0,0,1,0

---The trouble is that you think you have time------Worry is the Interest, paid in advance, on a debt you may never owe------It's not what happens to you in life that is important ~ it's what you do with it ---

Orbiting-Awareness wrote:Hello all. I saw avatar at the midnight showing, in 3-D, and found that this movie has to be the most advanced, visually, to date. Plot wise, not so much.I'm not sure if was just me, but I thought that the big military power invading the native's land, to harvest the LARGEST deposit of "unabtanium" ( Which I thought was a very interesting name for this highly valuable resource) is strikingly similar to the situation in the middle east, and the united states, especially the massive, and gross bombing of their sacred tree, in order to start drilling. Also, i found the scene after the tree toppled surfaced images of the twin towers in my mind. Just a thought, not sure if others found this to be so prevalent. What do you guys think?

Yes, many have noticed these themes, as the review posted by cooran indicates. I saw the movie again on Friday, in 3D, with my wife. One thing that jumped out this time was that the "final straw" for the military/corporation was the "intel" from Jake that the humans "have nothing the Navi want" and so there will be no way to bargain with them, to get them to move. Sadly, i think this does reflect history pretty accurately. When tribal peoples have refused to negotiate and trade, and had the nerve to fight back, the big guns have often been brought in.

"As Buddhists, we should aim to develop relationships that are not predominated by grasping and clinging. Our relationships should be characterised by the brahmaviharas of metta (loving kindness), mudita (sympathetic joy), karuna (compassion), and upekkha (equanimity)."~post by Ben, Jul 02, 2009

The attitude of the Na'vi was a mirror of my own inner world, my own connection to animals and plants. (Of course I don't ride dragons. )

During the destruction I could not stop crying. When I watch a movie I pretty much forget the world around me.

I was taken aback by all the violence, thinking about the non-violent Buddhist path, but I will have to admit I found myself shaking my fist to heaven, when the tables turned and the Na'vi pulled aircrafts down.

Another very emotional moment came for me when the paralyzed guy fell out of his machine and his Na'vi wife found him lifeless and bedded his head on her lap.

She was so large and strong, and he so weak, and yet she looked at him with such love and compassion, wow, it totally blew my mind.

I found the green aspects in the movie wonderful.

This planet is getting ruined by the white race, while the indigenous people were able to blend in and live in harmony and respect with their surroundings.

This is the way in which my garden has become a biotop, a sanctuary for all that wants to live there.

Thus inspired and being a practical nature, I FINALLY did what I always wanted to do in this life :

I am now engaged in a rain forest project.

You know I am making jewelry.

I have created a rain forest edition and have already sold a part of it.

I will donate a part of my gain to a rainforest organisation. 1 m² costs only 1 cent.